# What's your expertise? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 8, 2010, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-expertise/546024 "2010-07-08T22:43:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2010, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-expertise/546024/61 "2010-07-09T19:05:09Z")
> [@GargoyleWB](#): > > Why everyone who thinks Deckard is a replicant are sad, misguided, befuddled simpletons. Start a thread. I’d like to see the logic on both sides. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Tyger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Silver\_Tyger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Tyger)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2010, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-expertise/546024/62 "2010-07-09T19:10:07Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I’m not sure most of the posters are defining “Expertise” the way I would. With due respect - this is just a semantics thing - I don’t think very many people are “Experts” at more than a couple of things, and certainly not five or six. > > […] > > I guess I’m just being picky, but to my mind a thread that talks about what you’re really an expert in would be just a bit more interesting than “what stuff do you know a lot about?” But that’s just me. I define expertise as a relative thing. What does everyone else come to you for knowledge about? Or if they were looking for info about something would you be the best resource immediately available? By that definition, I’m an expert in the things I said. We could also throw spelling in there, but I would rather not. In other settings, no, I wouldn’t be an expert (especially kimono), but on this board I’m the one people ask (and I then usually double check my answers). ---
**Author:** ![divemaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/divemaster/32/78_2.png) [@divemaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/divemaster)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2010, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-expertise/546024/63 "2010-07-09T19:38:14Z")
professional: –Section 7 consultation related to the Endangered Species Act –writing/developing NEPA documents in a lead role (as relative to cooperating agencies) Normally I wouldn’t consider myself an “expert” on the above; however, given my interactions with resource staffers and management from other agencies, uh, well, I’m an expert. hobby –the works of Stephen King and collecting first editions (trade and signed limited) –while I am in no way an expert on Korean cinema, I’ve probably watched more Korean movies than just about any U.S. white guy, and can discuss them at length with anyone, even experts from Korea (as long as the conversation is in English LOL). ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2010, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-expertise/546024/64 "2010-07-09T19:56:38Z")
I would have though scuba would have fit in there somewhere. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2010, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-expertise/546024/65 "2010-07-09T20:17:10Z")
Being mentally ill. I’m serious. I am fucking awesome at being depressed and anxious. I experience it daily, know it inside out, call it to the floor, deconstruct it and nail it to the wall before it can even think about doing real damage to my life. I can be in the middle of a crushing major depressive episode, be in actual physical pain from the intensity of the feeling, and still rate my overall quality of life as an 8/10 on the satisfaction scale, and _mean_ it. I am the Master. For related reasons, I am also pretty damn knowledgeable about psychology in general. A lot of it came from self-help research and a lot of it came from the fact that it is my husband’s greatest passion and a genuine academic interest of my own. We talk about it all the time. I still don’t know as much as he does, but I’ve picked up a lot. Also, Nietzsche. I’m no Walter Kaufmann, but the fact that I know who Walter Kaufmann is and why he matters has to say something. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2010, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-expertise/546024/66 "2010-07-09T22:55:36Z")
For work: IC design, more logic than circuit. I’m reasonably famous in one subspecialty of this field. I’ve become way too familiar with running conferences, particularly as program chair. I can create what looks like a coherent program out of a collection of random papers in just minutes. Hobby: 50s and 60s (and the decades before and after) science fiction. I have almost complete sets of all the major magazines from 1945 onwards, and a fairly good percentage of the books published in the '50s and '60s. Don’t ask me about current stuff - I’m so far behind I hardly get anything current. I also have a fairly large collection of old books on sf from this time. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2010, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-expertise/546024/67 "2010-07-09T23:29:24Z")
Me? Most things automotive. ---
**Author:** ![Shocker\_Khan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c57346/32.png) [@Shocker\_Khan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shocker_Khan)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2010, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-expertise/546024/68 "2010-07-09T23:30:03Z")
Improv Indie Music Bob Ducca ---
**Author:** ![jsquire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ce73a5/32.png) [@jsquire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsquire)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2010, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-expertise/546024/69 "2010-07-10T00:22:50Z")
Track and field. I just took third (out of 3000+ people) in an online pick 'em contest, somewhat similar to a fantasy league. And a local prof researching women’s college track in the pre-NCAA called me before anyone else. ---
**Author:** ![ThisSpaceForRent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisspaceforrent/32/345_2.png) [@ThisSpaceForRent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisSpaceForRent)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2010, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-expertise/546024/70 "2010-07-10T00:29:47Z")
Some of you I would LOVE to talk with…other would put me to sleep…but a pretty freaking diverse group all in all. Me…I am a lay expert at Long Distance sled dog racing; Think Iditarod, Yukon Quest and other…especially proficient in race history and current mushers. Also pretty good at Grateful Dead and related band history/trivia/scene knowledge…not a **Rhythmdvl** but pretty close. 😉 Definitely and expert as a General Manager for my company and Bakery/Cafe… tsfr ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Tyger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Silver\_Tyger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Tyger)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2010, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-expertise/546024/71 "2010-07-10T01:00:17Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > Me? > Most things automotive. And being awesome. ---
**Author:** ![AnalogSignal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/analogsignal/32/1085_2.png) [@AnalogSignal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnalogSignal)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2010, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-expertise/546024/72 "2010-07-10T03:53:40Z")
Expert: SQL Server specifically replication Hobby: Electronic music and synthesizers ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2010, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-expertise/546024/73 "2010-07-10T04:22:51Z")
> [@Silver Tyger Girl](#): > > And being awesome. ::: Blush::: ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2010, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-expertise/546024/74 "2010-07-10T05:11:37Z")
I hesitate to call myself an expert on anything, but these come closest: Photography The Beatles Adobe Photoshop Adobe Lightroom 60’s music Home repair Medical stuff mmm ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2010, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-expertise/546024/75 "2010-07-10T05:13:44Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > ::: Blush::: Get a room! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2010, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-expertise/546024/76 "2010-07-10T05:20:59Z")
Data compression algorithms; construction of certain types of puzzles. Various computer engineering areas (but of puzzle-solving rather than knowledge-based type). I really am smarter than I seem. 😃 I have more U.S. patents than I have teeth, and the best circuit designer I’ve ever met called me the best circuit designer he’d ever met. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2010, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-expertise/546024/77 "2010-07-10T05:32:58Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > I really am smarter than I seem. 😃 I have more U.S. patents than I have teeth, and the best circuit designer I’ve ever met called me the best circuit designer he’d ever met. Really? What with your username and all, I’d imagine there are six people better than you. ---
**Author:** ![Omi\_no\_Kami](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a88e4f/32.png) [@Omi\_no\_Kami](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omi_no_Kami)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2010, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-expertise/546024/78 "2010-07-10T05:35:46Z")
East and Central Asian history, religion & linguistics Phonetics Speech pathology/audiology Lesbian porn ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2010, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-expertise/546024/79 "2010-07-10T06:15:55Z")
rock music the writing of Jim Thompson alternative comedy classic foreign films keeping track of multiple lies I’ve been telling without giving myself away ---
**Author:** ![EpicNonsense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c37758/32.png) [@EpicNonsense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EpicNonsense)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2010, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-expertise/546024/80 "2010-07-10T08:11:01Z")
I am good at a lot of things though I can’t make the claim of being an expert at anything… too repetitive for my nature. ‘Get good, and move on’, as I say. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-expertise/546024.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-expertise/546024.md?page=5)